University of Chicago had 15 elected this year out of 213. Next highest was Harvard at 10 total (including Med and Bus School).
This seems pretty impressive. How impressive is it?
Very.
Only Nobel is more impressive and there too UChicago rules.
Congratulations to the faculty elected.
Is this Academy the same as the Oscars? If not, well I am not that impressed. 
^^ The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is a tad smaller than the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences and preceded the latter by almost 150 years. It was created in 1780 by the Massachusetts legislature in order “to cultivate every art and science which may tend to advance the interest, honor, dignity, and happiness of a free, independent, and virtuous people.” Ben. Franklin and Geo. Washington among its earliest members.
The latter was created in Los Angeles by Louis B. Mayer as a means to get around the labor unions and improve the film industry’s image. Douglas Fairbanks Sr. was elected its first president, Thomas Edison the first honorary member.
I believe that the American Academy of Arts and Sciences is the US version of the Royal Academy in the UK. I’m not 100% sure, but that was my understanding. While Isaac Newton has never been in the American Academy of Arts adn Sciences, other great titans of science have been or currently are members.
There is no “Royal Academy”. It is the “Royal Society” and the closest American analog is probably the National Academy of Science.